Reflected-light-diminishing apparatus.



l 1. F'. HA'RRELL.

REFLECTED LIVGHI DIMINISHING APPARATUS. APPLICATION FILED ocT:.1o,'1912.1,139,277'e Patented May 11,1915.

exe

J. F. HARRELL.

REFLECTED LIGHT DIMINISHING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. l0, 1912.

Patented May11, 1915.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

` JNVENTOR.:

mi". v

ATTORNEY.

JESSEY HARRELL, OF INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mayll, 1915.

Application filed October 10, 1912. VSerial No. 724,898.

T0 all -z/:zomit may concern Be it known that l, Jnssnr F. HARRELL, acitizen of the United States, residing at Indianapolis, in the county ofMarion and State of indiana, have invented new and usefulReflected-Liglit-Diminishing Apparatus, of which the following is aspecifica tion, reference being had to the accompanying drawings and tothe letters and figures of reference marked thereon.

This invention relates to means' whereby a. strong light may befurnished for automobiles, electric or steam locomotives, cars, tractionengines, or for other vehicles, when traversing the open country andwhich light may 'be diminished or dimmed when entering cities or towns,or when meeting other 'vehicles traveling in the opposite direction, orwhen it may be desired to diminish the light, the invention havingreference more particularly vto a lamp including either electric, gas orother source of light and a focusing reflector, meansfor movablysupporting the source of light relative to the reiector, and means foradjustably moving the source of light.

The primary object of the invention is to provide a powerful light forthe above mentioned and other purposes which may be diminished at will,to the end that persons appreaching the light shall not be exposed tothe blinding influences of a strong light suitable for illuminating theroadway a considerable distance ahead.

`applied to old as well as new lamp cases and reflectors and to varioustypes of vehicles.

Vith the above mentioned and other objects in view, the inventionconsists in novel means for supporting and adjustably moving anincandescent lamp or burner or a gas burner relative to a reflector, inorder that the intensity of the reflected light may be varied andconsequently diminished in intensity as refiected, and the inventionconsists further in the parts and in the combinationsI and arrangementsof parts hereinafter particularly described and further defined in theaccompanying claims.

Referring to the drawings, Figure 1 is a v top plan of a portion of anautomobile to which the invention is applied as illustrating one of itsuses; Fig. 2, a verticalcentral section of the improved lamp aspreferably constructed; Fig. 3, a fragmentary central section of thelamp on an enlarged scale; Fig. t, a transverse sectiony on the plane ofthe line A A in Fig. 3; Figs. 5 and 6, perspective views of parts ofthe'invention; Fig. 7, a fragmentary section of the lamp slightlymodified to produce gas light; Fig. 8, a sectional diagrammatic Viewillustrating the continuity and details of the preferred means foroperating yand controlling the light adjustment apparatus; and Fig. 9, afragmentary transverse section on the plane of the line B B in Fig. 3.

Similar reference characters in the-ditv ferent figures of the drawingsindicate corresponding elements or features of construction hereinreferred to.

In the drawings the numeral 1 indicates tlieinain frame of anautomobile, 2 the engine of the explosion type, 3 the radiatorpertaining to the engine cooling system, 4 the steering wheel post ormast,'5 the steering wheel and 6 Yand 6 the lamp cases, all of which maybe variously constructed in detail, the lamp cases illustrated .beingsomewhat similar to those which are adapted to be equipped either forelectric lighting or gas lighting, and it is obvious that either one ormore lamps may be provided on a vehicle and that the lamp case may bevariously7 modified to suit requirements. Each lamp 'case has a suitablefocusing reflector 7 in its normal forward portion, the reflector beingprovided on its back with a fixed annular boss 8 which, for the purposesof the invention is arranged on the axis of the reflector and is securedfiXedly in the forward end of a tubular or hollow Vsupporting guide 9which has base extensions 10 and 10 on its normal rear end that arefixedly secured to the back 11 of the lamp case, two opposite portionsof the wall of the guide having longitudinal slots 12 and 12 therein.The base portion 10 has a fulcrum arm 13 thereon provided with-a pivot14 to which isconnected a bell crank having one arm 15 that extendsthrough the slot 12 and when moved may enter the slot 12', theparmhaving a' slot 16 therein, the other` arm 17 of the bell crank extendingat a suitable angle to serve as an operating arm. A

ivard end lof the stem 18 has a suitable plug 2:2 therein to whicheitherv an incandescent electric burner 23 or a gas 'burner 2l issuitably connected in a well known mannen. The reflector may be providedWith a protecting glass or lens 25. The plug 22 When adapted for holdingan electric burner has gas burner 24.

suitable filling 26 therein' in which circuit ivires 27 and 28 are heldand properly terminated so as' to afford a circuit with the electricburner commonly known as an incandescent lamp. The ivires extendrearwardfthrough the stem andpast one side yof l the base portion andout through the casing vflexible gas tube lQ9 in lieu of the Twires is'brought into the rear end of the guide 9 and into the stem 18 to theholding plug 22 in Which it may be suitably connected with the Each lampcase may be variously supported, as oy means cfa stand 30, variousvehicles necessitating various means .for supporting the lamp case orcases thereon.

Various connecting means may be employed for lenablinga person tomanually operate the lighting apparatus and control the illumination ata distance from him, and

.in the operation of'automobile `lamps it is preferable to provide asteel wire rod 31 for one lamp and a branch wire rod 31 secured to therod 31 for another lamp, the rods beingrelatively. thin and flexible andprovided with suitable couplers 32, .32 connected each to the arm .1 7of a lamp mechanism. order to guide the 'rods throughout their length toprevent them from springing laterally when pushed they are inserted linsuitablev guide tubesor cases 33 and 33 respectively which may be bentin arranging them With respect to the vehicle structure, and they extendinto the lamp cases nearl \7 to the bell crank arms and aresuitablysupported by means of anchors 3l. The conne'cted portions of the rods 31and 31 are incased in a Y comprising a'stem and two branches 36 and 37connected respecguide 38 being connected to the stein 35 and lAincasingand guiding the portion of the rod 31 thatextends to theoperators position,

Vthe end of the rod havirrl a suitable coupler secured to the steeringWheel post 4 in proximity to the steering Wheel 5. The incasing guidesofthe operating rods are provided with a suitable number of bracingholders post 4 and elsewhere as secured to the may be desired. e

1n practical use the lamp burner at which the light is produced is heldin the position relatively close to the focusing portion of thereflector so that the light beams are projected a considerable distanceahead and a brilliant reflected light results, and Whenit is desired toavoid blinding or .partially blinding persons' facing the light, thestem 18 is moved forward a suitable distance and carries the source oflight avvay from the focusing portion of the retlectortoward, or to theglass with the result that the light is defocused and only dimlyreflected, and therefore is not of such intensity as to beobjectionable, but is sutlicient to light the road veither in streets orwhen moving. at slow speed onl roads in the open country.

Having thus described the invention, what fis claimed as new is l;Reiiected light diminishing means including a supported casc,.a focusingrel'lecT tor supported in the case, a lamp device, ,a holding steminovably guided in the case Afor supportingthe lamp device at differentpositions within the reflector, actuating means movably supported withinthe case adapted for graduatingly changing the positionvof the holdingstem, controlling means operatively connected lwith the actuatingv meansand'extending to a point remote therefrom', and means for latching'thecon trolling means to hold the stem and the lamp device in graduatedposition. 2. Reflected light diminishing apparatus including a supportedfocusing reflector provided on its axis with a guide, a stem movablysupported by thekguide. and provided with a longitudinally movableflexible. controlling device extending therefrom, means for guiding thecontrolling device and controlling the'f'lexibility thereof, and a lampdevice connected `\\'ith the stem.`

3.,Reflccted light diminishing apparatus including a supported fmfusingreflector pro vided with a guide, a .stein niovably support-` ed by theguidel a flexible controlling rod, coupling means connecting the rodwith thc stem, means for guidingr the rod and controlling t'heflexibilityY thereof, and a lamp device connected with the stem.

l. Reflected light diminishing apparatus including a supported focusingreflector provided with a guide, a stem movablysupported by' the guide,aflexible ,controlling rod, coupling means connecting the rod With thestem, a supported tubular casing envelf ioo cases, a plurality of guidessupported in the and guiding the rod, andra lamp ele ment carried by tieStem opposite to the relector. i l

5. Reflected light diminishing apparatus including a supported focusingreflector provided with a guide, a Stein inovahly supported by the guideand having a rela1 tively long and iiexihle controlling deviceoperatively connected therewith, a lamp eleinent carried by the sternyopposite to the reflector, and means for tortuously guiding thecontrolling device and controlling lthe iiexihility thereof.

6. Rci'iected light diminishing apparatus including a supported focusingrei'cetor provided with' a hollenT guide,1 a stein inevably mounted inthe guide, a. lamp element carried by the arm Jivotally supported andconnected with the stein and having an operating arm thereon, a rodconnected to the operating arm,

means for guiding the rod, and a conductor extending into the hollowguide and through the stem to the lamp element.

7. Reflected light diminishing apparatus including a case, a focusingreflector xedly supported in the case and provided on its focusingportion with a. hollow guide, a stein movably element mounted on thestein' Within the relectoi', an arm pivoted-in the case and connectedwith the stein, a rod extending through the case and operativelyconnected with the arm, and a conductor extending into the :casey and'the hollow also through the stem to the lainpelemen't.

mounted in theguide, a lamp guide and` lamp vcase to the op y connectedto 8. The combination of a plurality of lamp i plurality vof'casesrespectively, a Vplurality Yoftfocusing reflectors ii'xe'dly. supportedin the 'cases .adjacent to the guides respectively, a plurality of lampelements the reiiectors, a plurality of operating devices supportedrespectively by the cases and 'operatively connected with the pluralityof lamp elements for control thereof, a hollow guide having a pluralityof guide branches respectively extending to the cases, andan operatingrod movable in 'the guide fand having Vbranches `movably I,extendingthrough the" guide branches and connected respectively with the.-operating devices, 1 9. The combinationwith a motor. vehicle, vasteering Wheel mounted on the vehicle, a

lamp casemounted on the vehicle distant fromthe steering wheel, a.focusing reflector movably supported bythe guides respectively to movetoward or `from the focusing portions ofr v ,iso

stem opposite the reflector, an o.

.movable operating connections connected case, a lamp eleof guidingmeans .mov-

iarop element opposite oit the re'ector to per ie lamp element' towardusing portion, a conductor Lhe lamp element with ka curing light, andmovable oper- ;''oi suppiyin: rent for produc ating connections.eonnectedwith the guid` ing and supporting `n'ieans and extendingapproximately to the steering Wheel.

lil, .lfhe combination with a motor vehicle having/contro ing moans, andan operators station proximity to thev controlling means., oit a casemounted on the vehicle having guide fixed therein, a stein inevablysupported by the guide, a lamp ment connected to the stein, a focusingrefiectoi mounted in the case opposite the element, a conductorextendingthrough the sten-i 4to the lamp element, and

With the stein and extending through the y craters station. 1l. Thecombination with ing a focusing reflector therein, of a hollow Aguidesecure-d tors station inl .proximity p of' a focusing reiiector mountedon` the vehicle, a transparent element supported focusing p to the caseand also to the reector, a hellfcifank pivoted connected with thebell-crank, a lamp element'movahiy supported by the stemvopposite thefocusing portion of the retiector, a conductor extending through thestein to a casing yhavp in the case stein movahly mounted in 'the guideandthe lamp element, and an operating rod through the case. i y

l2, The combination Witha motor vehicle having controlling means, and anopera- Vtothe controlling means,

at the front of the rellector, a connecting device extendingsubstantially from the operatorie station to the reiiector, lamp meansfor producing 'light adjacent to the portion of thereector or adja. centto the inner side of the' transparent element and controlled by theconnecting device, operating means supported in proxiniity to the lingthe connecting device, and means for latching the operating means.

:ln testimony w hereof, I aihx my signa- JESSEY F. HARRELL.

ture in presence of two Witnesses.

Witnesses liliniinr Nfrrnn, Willman W. CANTER.

operators station for control-l the hell-crank4 and extending ioo

